Network Security Top Priority in 2005

Facing an ever-growing array of threats to corporate information systems, technology executives now see enhancing network security as 'Job One'.

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Facing an ever-growing array of threats to corporate information systems, technology executives now see enhancing network security as 'Job One'.

Thirty-five percent of CIOs polled by Robert Half Technology (RHT) said improvements to network security are their highest priority.

Operating-system upgrades were the second-most frequent response, cited by 16 percent of executives.

CIOs were asked, ''Which of the following initiatives are the highest priorities for your IT department in the next 12 months?" Their responses:

Network security improvements 35%;

Operating-system upgrade/installation 16%;

Database upgrade/installation 15%;

Customer relationship management 15%;

Data storage and backup 13%;

Hardware purchases 11%;

Wireless communications 10%;

ERP upgrade/installation 8%;

Development of e-business applications 6%;

Other/don't know 8%;
(Multiple responses were allowed.)

''Security is moving from being regarded as largely a defensive measure to one that has become an integral part of systems design,'' said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of RHT. ''The increasing sophistication of threats, along with new security requirements mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other government regulations, means that ensuring network security now demands a proactive, enterprise-wide strategy.''

This article was first published on CIOupdate.com. To read the full article, click here.